SOLON — A nearly half-million dollar watermain replacement project will begin soon.
The Solon City Council accepted a $554,567.00 bid from Local Boring Company, LLC, of Morse, to replace the watermain along Chabal and Elm streets. Bids for the estimated half-million dollar project, in addition to Local Boring’s were for $973,767 and $725,000. The bids were reviewed during the Council’s regular meeting Wednesday, July 5.
Currently the area is served by an eight-inch diameter main, which reduces down to four inches and does meet current standards. With the installation of a larger main, Public Works Director Scott Kleppe said residents will see a noticeable increase in water pressure, and a higher water flow will be available for fire protection.
Kleppe and City Administrator Cami Rasmussen expect work begin soon after an initial meeting with the contractor and Rasmussen noted there would be an emphasis on completing the section in front of Lakeview Elementary School before the start of the new school year.
$400,000 of American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) funding has been set aside for the project. ARPA provided $65.1 billion in direct aid to state and local governments to help in response to public health and economic emergency, protect infrastructure, and support governmental services; and was drafted in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Replacing aging infrastructure, including water and sewer lines, is permissible under the guidelines.
The Council tabled action on bids received for replacing the Main Street alley sewer line serving downtown businesses including Buff’s, the Legion, the Hardware Store, and El Sol. Veenstra & Kimm, the city’s engineering firm, had estimated the project would cost around $40,000. However, the lowest bid received was for $73,662.35 from Dave Schmidt Construction.
Rasmussen explained the project is on hold pending review of the bids by city staff and a determination of the potential costs the individual businesses will be responsible for to make up any difference between the city’s funding (from reserves) and the higher bids.